Tag Archives: grouping

How to sum the cost up of the two methods?

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To sum up the cost of several methods, you can use the Grouping Option. Here are the steps to be followed:

  1. Go to X-Shippingpro -> Global setting -> Grouping, Now select a group e.g. Group1 to SUM

2. Now we have a group1 and we have to assign group method/member for this group.

3. To assign a method into a group, go to the general tab of a method, select the Group to Group1.

4. When X-Shippingpro finds several methods belongs to the same group during checkout,  X-Shippingpro takes the appropriate action and shows one method instead of showing them all.

For example, you have a `Method-1` and `Method-2` methods.  If customer want to purchase only from the `Method-2` or `Method-2`, group mode will not come into action. 

But when a customer wants to purchase from both `Method-1` and `Method-2`, it meets the group criteria and grouping will come into action. So shipping cost will be summed up and it displays the summed cost instead of showing separately.

First level grouping vs Second level grouping in xshippingpro

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In xshippingpro, there are two levels of grouping:

  1. Group in methods – First level grouping is based on Group Field  and
  2. Group in groups – second level grouping is based on Sort Order field.

Xshippingpro first calculate grouping based on Group field and finally it calculate grouping again based on Sort Order Fields.

Second level grouping need very seldom. Most of the cases, first/top level grouping is enough to achieve the scenario. However, it might be needed second level grouping in few cases.
Why do you need grouping basically? Sometimes we came across in a situation when we have to take decision what to do to a special case. For example, You want to charge shipping cost $5 if any item is chosen from category A and shipping cost $10 when any item is chosen from Category B. But what would happen when someone want to purchase from both category A and B? Well, you may want sum the shipping cost up Or want to move on with highest Shipping cost.

You can then let xshippingpro know your decision through grouping mode. For doing so, you will have to navigate to group mode option, then Choose Group1 is Sum or whatever you want. Now, You will have to assign this group to each of the applicable shipping method in the General tab. Under general tab of the method, you will find an option “Group”. This is field where you need to be assigned it. If you don’t need any group, you can just keep it as “None”.

This way, you can make up to 10 groupings amongst the shipping methods. One method can belong to only one group at a time.

Now let discuss Group of groups or second level grouping. For example, you have 5 top level groups like I discussed above. Now you have come up in a situation where you may need to sum up the cost of  the groups. This is very rare case but it may be needed. Thats why Group of Group is only one. To make grouping within groups, you first choose Group mode i.e either it is sum or highest etc.

Then you will have to choose shipping methods for this group. Unfortunately, there is no selection field for this kind of grouping like first level grouping. Xshippingpro consider value of the Sort Order field that is located under general tab to find out or calculate such grouping. Method having same Sort order value will be considered as a group. For example,  if you have chosen “Group of groups” is Sum. Now method-A and method-B has sort order value is 1. Now xshippignpro, will consider these two method as a group. So whenever both methods shall become activate simultaneously, xshippignpro will show one method instead of both depending on Group mode (sum, average etc).

Note group in groups will not work unless you have at least one first/Top level grouping.

Grouping in x-shipping Pro

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In Xshippingpro, you can divide all shipping methods up to ten group. Why do you need grouping?  It can be used following cases:

  1. You can hide/filter out unwanted shipping method at certain scenario. For example, You have two shipping methods a. Free Shipping when order total is greater than $100 and b. Flat Shipping $20. So whenever a customer purchase products worth more than $100, it will show two shipping methods during checkout which are Free Shipping and Flat Shipping. Since it is bit awkward having free shipping and flat shipping at a same time. So you can hide Flat shipping whenever Free shipping activates. we can hide it using group feature.
  2. Merge or combine shipping cost of several shipping methods into one. For example, You want to charge $5 per product for category A and $7 per product for category B. So you have created two shipping methods. One for category A and another for Category B. Whenever customer purchase products from category A and Category B together, you want to sum up the cost. Group option can do that.

It support following group type or mode:

  1. Lowest   –  It will show the method which have lowest cost among the group methods
  2. Highest  –   It will show the method which have highest cost among the group methods
  3. Average –   It will average the cost of the group methods.
  4. Sum –   It will sum up the cost of the group methods.

For defining several method as a group, first you will have to navigate in Xshippingpro -> Global setting -> Group Option

Now select Group type from available ten groups.  You can also enter a group name. This group name would appear instead of Method name if that group become activated during checkout. This group name can be combined with original method name and its price as well. For placing list of method names, please put @ and for list of prices # is needed to be placed.

Now you will have to assign your group number to the methods that you need to be linked together under general setting of each method.

Group creation is done!

Finally, it is also possible to make group from the Groups! This is called Group in groups. This group will determine based on Sort Order value defined on general tab of the each method. Shipping method having same sort order value will be placed into same group. Group of groups also can be Lowest, Highest, Average and Sum.

To know more details about top level grouping (Group of methods) and Second level grouping (Group of Groups), please check this